THE City of Greater Bendigo is considering its legal options to recover $19,060 from bankrupt former councillor Julie Hoskin. Ms Hoskin was the lead objector against the approval of a mosque in Bendigo and took the matter to the High Court in June, 2016, but was refused leave to appeal. The court then ordered Ms Hoskin, and fellow objector Kathleen Howard, to pay costs incurred by the council in defending their decision to approve the mosque. It followed unsuccessful legal challenges in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, where their appeal documents were described as an “alphabet soup” and their concerns about the mosque were found to be “overstated and unfounded”. The final costs were reduced from the $32,550 sought by respondents. Ms Hoskin was declared bankrupt in the Federal Court as law firm Robert Balzola and Associates – which acted for mosque objectors during the appeals – attempted to recover its own costs from Ms Hoskin. She was declared bankrupt on September 20, one day before she tendered her resignation from council. City of Greater Bendigo chief executive officer Craig Niemann said the council would continue to pursue the matter. “The city will be working with its legal advisors to determine the best way forward for this matter,” he said. “The city will need to consider what options remain available to recover the costs.” There are no civil proceedings listed in the Supreme Court between the City of Greater Bendigo and Ms Hoskin. Ms Hoskin was contacted for comment. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.

Ms Hoskin was declared bankrupt in the Federal Court as law firm Robert Balzola and Associates – which acted for mosque objectors during the appeals – attempted to recover its own costs from Ms Hoskin.